Judge rescinds protection for Prentice, but gives preservationists 30 days

January 11, 2013|By Ron Grossman | Tribune reporter

(Heather Charles/ Chicago Tribune)

A judge today lifted his court order protecting the old Prentice Women's Hospital from demolition, dismissing a lawsuit by preservationists but giving them 30 days to amend their complaint.

Judge Neil Cohen had issued the order in November barring demolition while he considered whether the process by which the building was denied landmark status was properly carried out.

While giving preservationists more time to save the Streeterville building from the wrecking ball, Cohen strongly hinted he would be hard-pressed to give it permanent protection. He explained that he was hemmed in by decisions by the state Supreme Court limiting his power to overrule a decision of the Chicago Commission on Landmarks.

A lawsuit by preservationists contended the commission violated the city's landmarks ordinance when it rescinded its own vote on landmark status for old Prentice, owned by Northwestern University.

That unusual maneuver took place Nov. 1, when the commission first voted to give the old hospital preliminary landmark status, then revoked that status on the basis of an economic impact study by the city's Department of Housing and Economic Development.

After today's hearing, Northwestern University said it was "pleased" with Cohen's decision.

The university said the new building planned for the site "will be connected on a floor-by-floor basis with the existing university research building just to the west of the site. Doing so will bring researchers together and thereby enhance the chances of finding breakthroughs in cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders, among others. The site is the linchpin for what will be a major new medical research hub."